Ottawa — The New Democrats say they will ask Justice Minister Rob
Nicholson to call in the RCMP to investigate new allegations about the
financing of Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro’s 2008 election campaign.
The NDP also want Nicholson to ask Director of Public Prosecutions Brian Saunders to provide prosecutorial advice to police because the politically-charged claims of a false document and reimbursements to campaign donors exceed the scope of Elections Canada’s mandate.
Del Mastro, the prime minister’s parliamentary secretary, is currently under investigation by Elections Canada over allegations his campaign exceeded its spending limit then tried to cover it up. He denies he did anything wrong.
An Elections Canada investigator has also said in a sworn statement that a memo submitted in the campaign’s financial reports was “a false document.”
There are also new allegations from former employees of a Mississauga electrical contracting firm, owned by Del Mastro’s cousin, who say they were reimbursed for making $1,000 donations to the same campaign.
Deltro Electric Ltd. owner David Del Mastro says he asked employees and friends to donate voluntarily but denies paying any reimbursements.
The new claims mark a serious escalation beyond the original concerns
about Elections Act violations, says NDP MP critic Charlie Angus.The NDP also want Nicholson to ask Director of Public Prosecutions Brian Saunders to provide prosecutorial advice to police because the politically-charged claims of a false document and reimbursements to campaign donors exceed the scope of Elections Canada’s mandate.
Del Mastro, the prime minister’s parliamentary secretary, is currently under investigation by Elections Canada over allegations his campaign exceeded its spending limit then tried to cover it up. He denies he did anything wrong.
An Elections Canada investigator has also said in a sworn statement that a memo submitted in the campaign’s financial reports was “a false document.”
There are also new allegations from former employees of a Mississauga electrical contracting firm, owned by Del Mastro’s cousin, who say they were reimbursed for making $1,000 donations to the same campaign.
Deltro Electric Ltd. owner David Del Mastro says he asked employees and friends to donate voluntarily but denies paying any reimbursements.
“We started out with a story of overspending and now we’re into a kickback scheme and fraud and forgery issues,” Angus said Friday.
“These are really complex and serious allegations. Can you just go and buy an election in Canada? It’s about the government saying, ‘We take this seriously.’”
Angus says these matters appear to exceed the scope of the Elections Act that Elections Canada enforces.
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